NOAA’S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SELECTS NEW LEADER
OF MARQUETTE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE

NOAA’s National Weather Service
has named Robin J. Turner to head the Marquette Weather Forecast Office
in Negaunee, Mich. Turner began his new duties as meteorologist-in-charge
last month.

“A
meteorologist-in-charge is the front line officer carrying out the
National Weather Service’s mission of serving the American public
by helping protect lives and property,” said Brig. Gen. David
L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of NOAA’s National
Weather Service. “We are honored to have Robin Turner serving
in this important role.”

A veteran of more than 14 years with
NOAA’s National Weather Service, Turner has held a variety of
forecast and management positions in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota
and Michigan. From beginnings as a meteorologist intern at the former
Alliance, Neb., radar office, Turner worked his way through various
positions with increasing responsibility to lead forecaster and warning
coordination meteorologist.

“With four years of service at
the Marquette forecast office, Robin Tuner has had a wealth of experience
in meteorology that will continue to well serve the people of the
Upper Peninsula,” said Gary L. Foltz, acting director, National
Weather Service Central Region in Kansas City, Mo. “I know Robin’s
experience and leadership will be assets to the staff and the community.
He will continue to promote the excellent coordination with local
governments and the business community, as well as supporting public
outreach that has been a strong point of the Marquette forecast office.”

After two years as a teacher in Nebraska,
Turner returned to college for a career change and earned a bachelor’s
degree in atmospheric science from Creighton University in Omaha,
Neb., in 1990. He began his National Weather Service career as a meteorological
intern at the Alliance, Neb., office in November 1990.

After a transfer to the Wichita, Kan.,
office in early 1992, he was selected to be a journeyman forecaster
at the office in Goodland, Kan., in 1993 and was promoted to lead
forecaster at Goodland in 1995. In December 1998, Turner transferred
to the Eastern North Dakota forecast office in Grand Forks. He was
selected as the warning coordination meteorologist at the Marquette
office in 2001 and held that position until his recent selection as
meteorologist-in-charge.

“I really enjoyed my years as warning
coordination meteorologist at Marquette and am honored to be selected
as the new meteorologist-in-charge,” Turner said. “I helped
build strong relationships with emergency managers and media in the
Upper Peninsula and, with the help of a very able and experienced
forecast team, we’ll strive to make those relationships even
stronger. We’ll continue to provide the best forecast and warning
services possible for people in the Upper Peninsula and will continue
to pursue ways to improve services to that entire community.”

NOAA's National Weather Service is the
primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United
States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service
operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast
system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance
the national economy.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated
to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction
and research of weather- and climate-related events and providing
environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly
60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated
as the planet it observes.